America’s Tough Guy: 10 Things You May Not Know About Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Ahem. Sorry for the outburst, but today is the 62nd birthday of flag-waving, thumbs-upping, pro wrestling institution, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Most people think of Duggan as a walking emblem of pro wrestling at its most cheerfully goofy, but Duggan has had a long, varied career and his share up highs and lows. Behind the cockeyed mugging and fanatic America lovin’ is a guy you might not expect.

So, tough guys and girls, here’s a few facts you might not know about the first-ever Royal Rumble winner…

Jim Duggan was a clean-cut member of the chess club in high school.

Jim Duggan played college ball at SMU. Duggan was signed by Atlanta but was released adue to knee injuries. http://t.co/H1LqKcnGPl

James Duggan Jr. was born on January 14, 1954, in Glens Falls, a small town in upstate New York. His dad was the town’s Irish police chief, and his mom was a conservative churchgoer who ran a tight ship. While most wrestling fans know Duggan as a Captain Caveman-esque wildman fueled by pure, unfiltered patriotism, the young Duggan was a square-jawed, conventionally handsome straight-arrow who could have been an extra on Mad Men. Just look at the pictures above. Those glasses! According to Duggan, he was even a member of the chess club in high school, so apparently he isn’t just tough, he’s a smart guy, too.

Someone once mentioned on The Art Of Wrestling that they were at a show and Duggan was doing the stomp-clamp to get the crowd going and his balls came out of his tights. He didn’t realize it and kept on stomping.

HOOOOOO!!! I’m gonna be honest as a kid I was huge mark for cheatin ass triflin ass Jim Duggan. Even the fist tape, he had so much conviction it seemed legit. Probably would’ve been better if he had ever gotten it on properly.

Vince was very good back then at getting over big burly dudes who you imagine could hit hard as fuck, but also looked physically incapable of technical wrestling. Interesting that that was partially his father’s eye for talent. Wonder what Vince Sr. would say about Cesaro?